Word broke last fall that Universal Pictures is planning a return to the Hyborian Age with The Legend of Conan, bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger back as the Robert E. Howard Cimmerian warrior. Ain’t It Cool News caught up with Schwarzenegger at a special screening of his latest, The Last Standand learned that the project is likely to shoot later this year and will potentially set up production in New Zealand.

“[Universal] finally came forward,” Schwarzenegger explains, “and said, ‘You’re absolutely right. The previous regime has missed the boat here. We want to pick it up. We’re going to buy the rights and we’re going to be serious about it and make a quality film with an A-director and with A-writers and so on. And we want you to participate in this. We want you to star and you to play Conan. We’re going to take a story where Conan is at that age so it’s totally believable and you’re not looking like a 30-year old action guy.'”

“The original ended with Arnold on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and this is the take of the film we will make,” producer Frederik Malmberg said in the original announcement. “It’s that Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary, and who has bedded more women than anyone, nearing the last cycle of his life. He knows he’ll be going to Valhalla, and wants to go out with a good battle.”